Mangaluru: Large parts of the city faced severe water supply disruptions on Monday and Tuesday after a major drinking water pipeline was damaged during ongoing work near the Padil–Kannur stretch. The unexpected breakdown triggered widespread water scarcity, affecting thousands of residents and key establishments.
Extent of disruption across the city
According to officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), the damage occurred on the main line that supplies water from Thumbe Dam to the Padil tank. The pipeline, located 18 feet below ground, made the repair work particularly challenging. Another line beneath it supplies water to the Bendore pump house, further complicating the process of identifying the exact point of damage.
As a result, a large number of areas experienced a complete suspension of water supply on Tuesday. These included Padil, Maroli, Kankanady, Mangaladevi, Jeppu, Panir, Mulihitlu, Bolar, Car Street, Mannagudda, Pandeshwar, State Bank, Shaktinagar, Kannur, Bajal, Jeppinamogaru, Alape, Attavar, Ullasnagar, Chilimbi, Kodikal, Urwa Store, Ashoknagar, Kudupu, Vamanjoor, Bondel, Kavoor, Marakada, and several surrounding localities.
Residents and establishments struggle
The sudden halt in water supply forced the authorities to arrange tanker services to residential complexes and commercial establishments. However, with high demand and limited supply, the stored water in many tankers was exhausted by Tuesday evening.
Hotels, hospitals and other critical facilities also struggled to maintain operations, leading to increasing concerns among residents already distressed by the prolonged scarcity.
Repair efforts underway
Teams deployed by MCC worked through Tuesday, using excavators and tippers to remove the thick layer of soil covering the underground pipeline. After hours of digging, the damaged section was finally identified. Water accumulated in the pit is currently being pumped out.
Officials said the damaged portion of the pipeline must be cut and welded, a procedure that requires additional time due to the depth and complexity involved.
Meanwhile, repair work is also underway on a separate leakage issue detected on the main line near the Adyar–Kannur area, adding further strain on the already disrupted supply network.
Water supply likely to resume in phases
MCC Commissioner Ravichandra Nayak stated that the primary repair work is expected to be completed by Wednesday morning. However, water may take at least 12 hours to reach different parts of the city after the repair is completed.
This means that a full restoration of supply across all affected areas on Wednesday is unlikely, and some neighbourhoods may continue to face partial or no supply until later in the day.
Conclusion
The large-scale water supply breakdown in Mangaluru highlights the fragility of essential infrastructure and the cascading impact of sudden disruptions. Authorities have assured that all efforts are being made to expedite repairs and restore normal supply, but residents may need to brace for delayed resumption until flow stabilises across the network.